let me begin by asking a few questions so um how many of you use a phone a TV
so um how many of you use a phone a TV
so um how many of you use a phone a TV or a computer draw write paint or even
or a computer draw write paint or even
or a computer draw write paint or even play video games how many of you also
play video games how many of you also
play video games how many of you also feed yourself brush your teeth or even
feed yourself brush your teeth or even
feed yourself brush your teeth or even drive a vehicle okay well what would you
drive a vehicle okay well what would you
drive a vehicle okay well what would you do if you lost the ability to use these
do if you lost the ability to use these
do if you lost the ability to use these items or complete these simple tasks how
items or complete these simple tasks how
items or complete these simple tasks how would you feel
would you feel
would you feel what would your outlook on life be who
what would your outlook on life be who
what would your outlook on life be who would you turn to you for help well
would you turn to you for help well
would you turn to you for help well these are questions that millions of
these are questions that millions of
these are questions that millions of people with disabilities including
people with disabilities including
people with disabilities including myself have to face our whole lives see
myself have to face our whole lives see
myself have to face our whole lives see I was a lot like you or anyone else
I was a lot like you or anyone else
I was a lot like you or anyone else growing up I ran high jumped and I
growing up I ran high jumped and I
growing up I ran high jumped and I played I even went fishing and out
played I even went fishing and out
played I even went fishing and out fished my father I was a boy scout who
fished my father I was a boy scout who
fished my father I was a boy scout who did derby car races and carbs soap and
did derby car races and carbs soap and
did derby car races and carbs soap and in my teens I gained the love for art
in my teens I gained the love for art
in my teens I gained the love for art unfortunately I was born with muscular
unfortunately I was born with muscular
unfortunately I was born with muscular dystrophy Duchenne’s a muscle weakening
dystrophy Duchenne’s a muscle weakening
dystrophy Duchenne’s a muscle weakening Dizzy’s that continuously weakens all
Dizzy’s that continuously weakens all
Dizzy’s that continuously weakens all the muscles throughout my body every day
the muscles throughout my body every day
the muscles throughout my body every day so as I grew up I eventually lost the
so as I grew up I eventually lost the
so as I grew up I eventually lost the ability to walk to feed myself and brush
ability to walk to feed myself and brush
ability to walk to feed myself and brush and dress myself I even lost the ability
and dress myself I even lost the ability
and dress myself I even lost the ability to use a phone a TV remote in a video
to use a phone a TV remote in a video
to use a phone a TV remote in a video game controller
game controller
game controller worse yet my heart had failed me and I
worse yet my heart had failed me and I
worse yet my heart had failed me and I had to have a heart transplant and when
had to have a heart transplant and when
had to have a heart transplant and when my mom failed me I got put on the
my mom failed me I got put on the
my mom failed me I got put on the ventilator through everything I was
ventilator through everything I was
ventilator through everything I was lucky to be alive but this wasn’t living
lucky to be alive but this wasn’t living
lucky to be alive but this wasn’t living because I felt like I couldn’t achieve
because I felt like I couldn’t achieve
because I felt like I couldn’t achieve anything anymore so I became depressed
anything anymore so I became depressed
anything anymore so I became depressed because I had lost everything except
because I had lost everything except
because I had lost everything except from my life I watched other people
from my life I watched other people
from my life I watched other people having fun playing the games I loved
having fun playing the games I loved
having fun playing the games I loved creating the pictures I once enjoyed
creating the pictures I once enjoyed
creating the pictures I once enjoyed creating and having the full enjoyment
creating and having the full enjoyment
creating and having the full enjoyment of everything life has to offer while I
of everything life has to offer while I
of everything life has to offer while I was stuck in my head only able to
was stuck in my head only able to
was stuck in my head only able to imagine what I could do if I was normal
imagine what I could do if I was normal
imagine what I could do if I was normal I was lost I was upset and I
I was lost I was upset and I
I was lost I was upset and I me to know that I couldn’t do what I
me to know that I couldn’t do what I
me to know that I couldn’t do what I loved anymore so much potential is taken
loved anymore so much potential is taken
loved anymore so much potential is taken from me which isolated me from the world
from me which isolated me from the world
from me which isolated me from the world and I lost all my freedom to do what I
and I lost all my freedom to do what I
and I lost all my freedom to do what I want it even though I wasn’t happy about
want it even though I wasn’t happy about
want it even though I wasn’t happy about my situation I never gave up I didn’t
my situation I never gave up I didn’t
my situation I never gave up I didn’t want to just sit around losing more of I
want to just sit around losing more of I
want to just sit around losing more of I loved every day so I searched online for
loved every day so I searched online for
loved every day so I searched online for years for other ways of doing everything
years for other ways of doing everything
years for other ways of doing everything I had lost and when I saw a paralyzed
I had lost and when I saw a paralyzed
I had lost and when I saw a paralyzed mouth painters on YouTube for the first
mouth painters on YouTube for the first
mouth painters on YouTube for the first time I had an epiphany and realized that
time I had an epiphany and realized that
time I had an epiphany and realized that was a little help and a lot of ingenuity
was a little help and a lot of ingenuity
was a little help and a lot of ingenuity there was so much more I could be doing
there was so much more I could be doing
there was so much more I could be doing my mom raised me use my big mouth for a
my mom raised me use my big mouth for a
my mom raised me use my big mouth for a reason and that’s that’s exactly what I
reason and that’s that’s exactly what I
reason and that’s that’s exactly what I did I began the painting again and I
did I began the painting again and I
did I began the painting again and I wanted to paint so bad that at first I
wanted to paint so bad that at first I
wanted to paint so bad that at first I just said you know I’m gonna put a brush
just said you know I’m gonna put a brush
just said you know I’m gonna put a brush my mouth I’m doing this that’s gonna
my mouth I’m doing this that’s gonna
my mouth I’m doing this that’s gonna happen and so I actually was able to
happen and so I actually was able to
happen and so I actually was able to paint this picture it did hurt a lot I
paint this picture it did hurt a lot I
paint this picture it did hurt a lot I realized using a wooden brush in your
realized using a wooden brush in your
realized using a wooden brush in your mouth and paint chips that don’t you
mouth and paint chips that don’t you
mouth and paint chips that don’t you know that’s not good either so huh
know that’s not good either so huh
know that’s not good either so huh I upgraded I said you know there’s got
I upgraded I said you know there’s got
I upgraded I said you know there’s got to be something better there has to be
to be something better there has to be
to be something better there has to be so I found a tool that allows me to
so I found a tool that allows me to
so I found a tool that allows me to stabilize the brush I can click any
stabilize the brush I can click any
stabilize the brush I can click any brush onto it any writing material
brush onto it any writing material
brush onto it any writing material utensil and I’m able to paint good and
utensil and I’m able to paint good and
utensil and I’m able to paint good and it doesn’t hurt so I was able to create
it doesn’t hurt so I was able to create
it doesn’t hurt so I was able to create this painting right I was able to start
this painting right I was able to start
this painting right I was able to start this painting and so let me show you the
this painting and so let me show you the
this painting and so let me show you the rest of the process on me painting this
rest of the process on me painting this
rest of the process on me painting this and as you can see I have a you know
and as you can see I have a you know
and as you can see I have a you know pillow on top of my lap I am able to put
pillow on top of my lap I am able to put
pillow on top of my lap I am able to put a pallet a water dish and I’m pretty
a pallet a water dish and I’m pretty
a pallet a water dish and I’m pretty much set I can sit there for hours doing
much set I can sit there for hours doing
much set I can sit there for hours doing what this right here unless I need a
what this right here unless I need a
what this right here unless I need a change of color and when I need a change
change of color and when I need a change
change of color and when I need a change of color I has asked for it and I mix it
of color I has asked for it and I mix it
of color I has asked for it and I mix it up myself so that’s basically how I do
up myself so that’s basically how I do
up myself so that’s basically how I do it and coming up next you will see I
it and coming up next you will see I
it and coming up next you will see I also have my music as you can see on
also have my music as you can see on
also have my music as you can see on here
here
here and coming up next you’ll see the
and coming up next you’ll see the
and coming up next you’ll see the finished product and now this is when I
finished product and now this is when I
finished product and now this is when I was completely done
[Applause]
[Applause] so when you have a disability it can be
so when you have a disability it can be
so when you have a disability it can be so easy to focus on all the things you
so easy to focus on all the things you
so easy to focus on all the things you can’t do but the right technology and
can’t do but the right technology and
can’t do but the right technology and guidance almost anything is possible you
guidance almost anything is possible you
guidance almost anything is possible you can get back so much of what you lost
can get back so much of what you lost
can get back so much of what you lost but this is only impossible when you
but this is only impossible when you
but this is only impossible when you know what technology is out there and
know what technology is out there and
know what technology is out there and you are able to afford it and
you are able to afford it and
you are able to afford it and unfortunately finding out what’s out
unfortunately finding out what’s out
unfortunately finding out what’s out there
there
there and finding a way to pay for it can be a
and finding a way to pay for it can be a
and finding a way to pay for it can be a major struggle for those living with
major struggle for those living with
major struggle for those living with disabilities technology as simple as a
disabilities technology as simple as a
disabilities technology as simple as a dictation program on a computer can help
dictation program on a computer can help
dictation program on a computer can help people like me to write social lives and
people like me to write social lives and
people like me to write social lives and even go to school nowadays their apps
even go to school nowadays their apps
even go to school nowadays their apps that can control your entire house which
that can control your entire house which
that can control your entire house which means I could open the front in garage
means I could open the front in garage
means I could open the front in garage doors turn on the lights put on some
doors turn on the lights put on some
doors turn on the lights put on some music
music
music order groceries online make a phone call
order groceries online make a phone call
order groceries online make a phone call and text a friend off without the help
and text a friend off without the help
and text a friend off without the help of another person but if we only knew
of another person but if we only knew
of another person but if we only knew what technology was available and where
what technology was available and where
what technology was available and where to get it the possibilities would be
to get it the possibilities would be
to get it the possibilities would be endless but the problem is often that
endless but the problem is often that
endless but the problem is often that dystek is hard to find for example after
dystek is hard to find for example after
dystek is hard to find for example after I lost the ability to play video games I
I lost the ability to play video games I
I lost the ability to play video games I began searching for other technology to
began searching for other technology to
began searching for other technology to make it possible for me to play again
make it possible for me to play again
make it possible for me to play again for five years I tried finding different
for five years I tried finding different
for five years I tried finding different solutions and got nowhere
solutions and got nowhere
solutions and got nowhere I even contacted a few organizations to
I even contacted a few organizations to
I even contacted a few organizations to help in this endeavor but there weren’t
help in this endeavor but there weren’t
help in this endeavor but there weren’t a lot of great options available five
a lot of great options available five
a lot of great options available five years later I found the mouth operated
years later I found the mouth operated
years later I found the mouth operated video game controller it’s called a quad
video game controller it’s called a quad
video game controller it’s called a quad stick and it changed my life and with
stick and it changed my life and with
stick and it changed my life and with this right now you’re seeing a
this right now you’re seeing a
this right now you’re seeing a rudimentary picture of it but there are
rudimentary picture of it but there are
rudimentary picture of it but there are three holes on it which allow me to sip
three holes on it which allow me to sip
three holes on it which allow me to sip and puff and there’s a lip switch so I
and puff and there’s a lip switch so I
and puff and there’s a lip switch so I can mix them together and I can play
can mix them together and I can play
can mix them together and I can play like I did before I lost my ability so
like I did before I lost my ability so
like I did before I lost my ability so in this next video you’ll actually see
in this next video you’ll actually see
in this next video you’ll actually see me doing a demo of it playing it and
me doing a demo of it playing it and
me doing a demo of it playing it and pretty much this is hear me playing
pretty much this is hear me playing
pretty much this is hear me playing Assassin’s Creed
and so with a quick little video you can
and so with a quick little video you can see there’s all mounting arm on it and
see there’s all mounting arm on it and
see there’s all mounting arm on it and what I do is I just set it up on well I
what I do is I just set it up on well I
what I do is I just set it up on well I have a ventilator cart and I set it up
have a ventilator cart and I set it up
have a ventilator cart and I set it up and it doesn’t come with a cap by the
and it doesn’t come with a cap by the
and it doesn’t come with a cap by the way and that’s pretty much the basics of
way and that’s pretty much the basics of
way and that’s pretty much the basics of it accessible technology can make it
it accessible technology can make it
it accessible technology can make it possible to have a life full of purpose
possible to have a life full of purpose
possible to have a life full of purpose a life that’s dignified and worthwhile
a life that’s dignified and worthwhile
a life that’s dignified and worthwhile but that technology you can only get if
but that technology you can only get if
but that technology you can only get if someone makes it and according to the
someone makes it and according to the
someone makes it and according to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation approximately 5.4 million people in the
approximately 5.4 million people in the
approximately 5.4 million people in the u.s. were living with paralysis and that
u.s. were living with paralysis and that
u.s. were living with paralysis and that number doesn’t even include those living
number doesn’t even include those living
number doesn’t even include those living with muscular dystrophy ALS cerebral
with muscular dystrophy ALS cerebral
with muscular dystrophy ALS cerebral palsy or any other disability which
palsy or any other disability which
palsy or any other disability which means that the actual number of people
means that the actual number of people
means that the actual number of people who have problems functioning in trouble
who have problems functioning in trouble
who have problems functioning in trouble I have trouble functioning in daily life
I have trouble functioning in daily life
I have trouble functioning in daily life could actually be twice that number you
could actually be twice that number you
could actually be twice that number you don’t think that’s a large number
don’t think that’s a large number
don’t think that’s a large number realize as more than the entire state of
realize as more than the entire state of
realize as more than the entire state of Colorado and also take into account that
Colorado and also take into account that
Colorado and also take into account that there are more than 57 million people
there are more than 57 million people
there are more than 57 million people with some type of disability in America
with some type of disability in America
with some type of disability in America alone about the population of Florida
alone about the population of Florida
alone about the population of Florida and California combined and if we take a
and California combined and if we take a
and California combined and if we take a look at this from a global standpoint
look at this from a global standpoint
look at this from a global standpoint census data from the World Health
census data from the World Health
census data from the World Health Organization and World Bank has
Organization and World Bank has
Organization and World Bank has determined that there are more than 1
determined that there are more than 1
determined that there are more than 1 billion people on earth with a form of
billion people on earth with a form of
billion people on earth with a form of disability and more than half are
disability and more than half are
disability and more than half are physically disabled with these numbers
physically disabled with these numbers
physically disabled with these numbers currently on the rise it’s estimated
currently on the rise it’s estimated
currently on the rise it’s estimated that more than 2 billion people will
that more than 2 billion people will
that more than 2 billion people will need at least one or two assistive
need at least one or two assistive
need at least one or two assistive products by 2050 which means that the
products by 2050 which means that the
products by 2050 which means that the potential market it’s a goldmine in fact
potential market it’s a goldmine in fact
potential market it’s a goldmine in fact coherent market insights predicts that
coherent market insights predicts that
coherent market insights predicts that the assistive tech market will be worth
the assistive tech market will be worth
the assistive tech market will be worth more than twenty six billion dollars by
more than twenty six billion dollars by
more than twenty six billion dollars by 2024 moreover companies who keep people
2024 moreover companies who keep people
2024 moreover companies who keep people with disabilities in mind have
with disabilities in mind have
with disabilities in mind have discovered that when they focus on them
discovered that when they focus on them
discovered that when they focus on them their products give
their products give
their products give better for everybody and it can show new
better for everybody and it can show new
better for everybody and it can show new client basis in fact someone like
client basis in fact someone like
client basis in fact someone like connects a device and uses it to improve
connects a device and uses it to improve
connects a device and uses it to improve their vision something like that could
their vision something like that could
their vision something like that could actually improve the visions of
actually improve the visions of
actually improve the visions of firefighters when entering smoke-filled
firefighters when entering smoke-filled
firefighters when entering smoke-filled buildings now companies should also
buildings now companies should also
buildings now companies should also embrace the principles of universal
embrace the principles of universal
embrace the principles of universal design creating products and services
design creating products and services
design creating products and services everyone can use that are ideally
everyone can use that are ideally
everyone can use that are ideally universally compatible having such an
universally compatible having such an
universally compatible having such an approach can actually make more
approach can actually make more
approach can actually make more financial sense in the long run but what
financial sense in the long run but what
financial sense in the long run but what you don’t want is to have to retrofit
you don’t want is to have to retrofit
you don’t want is to have to retrofit for a population that you forgot about
for a population that you forgot about
for a population that you forgot about thanks for the sort of design innovation
thanks for the sort of design innovation
thanks for the sort of design innovation we now have an ever-expanding suite of
we now have an ever-expanding suite of
we now have an ever-expanding suite of products from smart doorbells to
products from smart doorbells to
products from smart doorbells to smartphones to driverless cars that can
smartphones to driverless cars that can
smartphones to driverless cars that can be automated and controlled through
be automated and controlled through
be automated and controlled through voice or touch
voice or touch
voice or touch although these products were created to
although these products were created to
although these products were created to make life more convenient for everyone
make life more convenient for everyone
make life more convenient for everyone they’ve specifically helped people with
they’ve specifically helped people with
they’ve specifically helped people with disabilities to do things on their own
disabilities to do things on their own
disabilities to do things on their own that would otherwise be impossible for
that would otherwise be impossible for
that would otherwise be impossible for them remember convenience for you is
them remember convenience for you is
them remember convenience for you is independence for us it took me a long
independence for us it took me a long
independence for us it took me a long time to realize that you’re not limited
time to realize that you’re not limited
time to realize that you’re not limited by a disability only by your access and
by a disability only by your access and
by a disability only by your access and finances which is why we need companies
finances which is why we need companies
finances which is why we need companies to invest in marketing and developing
to invest in marketing and developing
to invest in marketing and developing new accessible technologies something
new accessible technologies something
new accessible technologies something that given by the potential size of the
that given by the potential size of the
that given by the potential size of the market is actually a very smart business
market is actually a very smart business
market is actually a very smart business decision with the right technology we
decision with the right technology we
decision with the right technology we can have a world where people are not
can have a world where people are not
can have a world where people are not found by a disability because they will
found by a disability because they will
found by a disability because they will be truly independent with the right
be truly independent with the right
be truly independent with the right technology we will have a world where I
technology we will have a world where I
technology we will have a world where I can’t becomes I can thank you
can’t becomes I can thank you
can’t becomes I can thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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